Pilot study: does the Five Shot Questionnaire give an indication of the severity of alcohol use-related problems?

This study explores whether the Five Shot Questionnaire reflects the severity of alcoholic inpatients' problems, such as assessed clinically by means of the EuropASI. Data were collected from 101 patients admitted to a psychiatric hospital in Belgium for alcohol use-related problems between September 2003 and December 2004. To investigate the research question, regression analyses--linear, ordinal, and binary logistic regression--have been performed. We conclude that the Five Shot Questionnaire gives an indication of the severity of alcohol use-related problems. As such, it can be recommended in general practice and emergency departments for further evaluation and treatment planning. The article ends with a discussion of its limitations and some suggestions for future research.